Skeleton gunstock



(No Model.)

H. M. QUAGKENBUSH.

SKELETON .GUNSTOGK.

Patented Sept. 23, 1890..

n w h m UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. QUACKENBUSH, OF HERKIMER, NEW V YORK.

SKELETON GUNSTQCK.

srncrrrcarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,997, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed May 1'7, 1890. Serial No. 352,136- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. QUACKEN- BUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gunstocks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to guns and the invention consists in a novel manner of constructing the stock of the gun, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a cross-section on the line a; a: of Fig, 1.

In the drawings I have shown my present invention as applied in connection with the breech mechanism and barrel, shown in my patent, No. 336,586, of February 23, 1886, and in which the barrel was secured to the stock by a single bolt and nut and the breech-block pivoted to swing laterally. In the gun as then made and as shown in said patent the butt portion of the stock was made of wood, and that portion to which the barrel is secured was made of a fiat plate or piece of metal worked to the form therein shown.

The object of my present invention is to make the stock wholly of metal in such a manner as to cheapen its production and to make the shoulder portion detachable, so that the gun can be packed in small space for convenience in traveling or in shipment, to make the rear part of a rod so bent as to form a trigger-guard and also a pistol grip or rest for the finger to aid in holding the gun more secure when firing it, and to so connect the two parts of the stock as to form a strong and secure connection, and at the same time enable them to be quickly and easily separated when desired. To accomplish these results I now make the body or front portion A of the stock from a round bar or rod of metal of the proper size, as shown, which enables it to be finished in a lathe with a minimum of time and labor. This piece A has a semicircular goove cut by a milling-tool along its upper surface from its front end back to the front end of the tongue of the breech-block, this groove being of a size to correspond with the diameter of the barrel, (and which will vary in guns of different sizes,) so that the barrel will fit snugly in said groove, as represented in Fig. 2, the barrel B being secured to the part A by a bolt I and nut R, the same as in my former patent. Along that part where the breech-block 0 lies the upper surface of the part A is made flat to permit the lateral movement of the breech-block. The shoulder-rest or rear portion T of the stock I form by taking a small rod, preferably of steel, about onefourth of an inch in diameter and of the proper length and bending it into the form shown in Fig. 1. The upper arm of this part T is bent to form a shoulder c for the thumb to bear against, as shown in Fig. 1, and its extreme front end is tapered to fit snugly into a correspondingly-shaped hole d, bored into the rear end of the part A, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower arm of this shoulder-rest T is extended further forward, and at the proper point has an upward bend a, forming a rest for the second finger similar in character or function to the so-called pistol-grip of sporting-guns, by which, in connection with the thumb-rest 0 above, the stock can be pressed firmly against the shoulder and be securely and steadily held when firing. In front of this bend a the rod is bent to form a trigger-guard b, the front end of which is bent to fit in a Vertical hole 6 in the part A, where it is securely fastened by a clamping or set screw Z, the head of which is enlarged and has its edge milled sothat it can be readily turned by the thumb and finger.

To unite the shoulder=rest T to the part A, the front end of the upper arm is first inserted into the taper hole d,into which it fits orwedges snugly, and the lower arm then has its end thrust into the hole e, when the screw Z is is turned so as to clamp it fast. As this end of the lower arm is bent to fitin a hole practi cally at a right angle to the hole (1, in which the end of the upper arm rests, it will be seen that the two parts A and T of the stock are rigidly and securely united, thus making a stock which for the purpose of shooting is as rigid and strong as though made in asingle piece. To disconnect the parts, it is only necessary to loosen the screw 1- and spring the lower arm sufficient to draw its end out of the hole e, when the taper end of the upper arm can be instantly withdrawn from its hole cl.

The shoulder-rest T will be made of the usual length of ordinary butt-stocks, and will also be given the proper angle in relation to the barrel or front part to bring the barrel up in line with the eye. One advantage of this plan of constructing the shoulder-rest is the facility with which it can be varied in length and also in its angle or droop to suit the requirements or wishes of different parties, some wanting it longer andothers shorter, and some Wanting more and others less angle or droop to the butt portion.

It will thus be seen that by this plan gun stocks can be made very cheaply, and that being wholly of metal they are less liable to injury by bruising or splitting, and as the metal can be plated cheaply they present a neat appearance and can be protected from rust. The detachability of the shoulder-rest is also a great convenience, as it enables the gun to be packed in a much smaller space, and at the same time a stock thus made has all the advantages of the more costly wooden stock with its pistol-grip. i It is obvious that the front stock A can be used with equal advantage with a wooden butt-stock or shoulder-rest, and that the barrel can be secured to the stock A by a band,

if desired, So,too, it is obvious that the trigger-guard, instead of being made integral with the shoulder-rest, may be made separate,

in which case the lower arm of the shoulderrest will be made correspondingly shorter and be connected to the front stock A in rear of the trigger instead of at its front. I prefer,

however, to make and connect the parts as shown, not only because it is cheaper, but

also because by connecting the two arms of the shoulder-rest T to the stock A in the manner shown it is more securely braced against torsional strain or displacement laterally.

I am aware that frames for toy guns have been made of wire, and also that extensionstocks for pistols and air-guns have been made of wire, both rigid and hinged, and therefore I do not claim,broadly, awire butt-stock but- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 15A main or front stock or support for a gun-barrel, composed of a round metal bar or rod having its upper face fitted to receive and hold a gun-barrel, substantially as shown and described.

- 2. A detachable butt-stock for guns, consisting of a metal rod bent in the form shown to form a finger-rest a. and a trigger guard b and having itsends adapted to fit in holes in the front stock, said holes being arranged su-bstantially at right angles to eachother.

3. The combinatiomin a gunsto'ck, of the front stock or frame A, provided with ataper hole at its rear end and a vertical hole with a clamping-screw at a point in front of the trigger, and the detachable skeleton butt-stock having its upper arm provided with a taper end and its lower arm bent at its front end into a vertical position, substanstially as shown and described. v

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY M. QUAOKENBU H. Witnesses:

JOHN KERsHAW, CHAS. H, BURRILL. 

